Fabric attaching means



Filed May 21, 1951 Nov. 23, l1954 B. J. NAUGHTON, JR

FABRIC ATTACHING MEANS United States Patent Utilice 2,695,051 Patented Nov. 23, 1954 FABRIC ATTACHIN G MEANS Bartley .L Naughton, Jr., Birmingham, Mich., assgnor of one-half to Stephen F. Olesak, Detroit, Mich.

Application May 21, 1951, Serial No. 227,338 1 Claim. (Cl. 155-180) This invention relates to means and method of attaching fabric to upholstered articles and in particular to novel bar-tab, and hook members disposed to interlock with a fabric and/ or anchor to easily demountable mount the fabric on the article and this application is a continuation in part of my co-pending application Serial Number 213,240, now Patent No. 2,612,941.

An object of the invention is provided quick, inexpensive means and methods of attaching fabrics to upholstered articles without the use of special tools or the employment of skilled labor.

An object of the invention is to provide co-acting means on the fabric and on the article which, at most, requires only the use of a hammer to operate in attaching.

An object of the invention is to provide a relatively inflexible strip or tab sewed to edge of the fabric to be attached in such manner that at least one edge portion is free and usually secured to the fabric intermediate its edge portions.

An object of the invention is to provide a channel member adapted to retainable receive one edge of the strip member.

An object of the invention is to provide dogs or fingers, preferable lanced out of the channel member adapted to retain the other edge of the strip member relative to the channel.

An object of the invention is to provide spurs on the channel member for quickly attaching slip covers without the use of tools. f

An object of the invention is to provide a dual channel member so that the fabric and slip cover can both be attached by use of the novel strip and channel.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent by reference to the following description of the chanels, strips, and fingers embodying the invention, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings showing the devices in conjunction with a seat cushion as an optional example, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an inventive channel member showing the dog or finger depressed in dotted lines.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a seat cushion, partly in elevation, integrated with the devices of the invention showing the channel on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the channel on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a perspective View of the inventive dual channel member.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the dual channel on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the device such as when used in conjunction with attaching automotive headlinings; and

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a modified channel.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like numerals refer to like and corresponding parts throughout the several views of the selected embodiments of the invention shown in conjunction with a seat cushion wherein -the invention comprises a channel member having a reversely bent edge substantially U shaped in crosssection, dogs or fingers lanced out of the channel on the opposite edge of the channel member, a substantially in-` flexible strip or tab member receivable behind the reversely bent edge or bar of the channel member in locking relationship relative to one edge of the strip or tab with the strip being sufciently wide to permit the fingers or dogs to be depressed over the other edge of the strip in locking relationship, and fabric, such as seat covering, headlining, etc., sewed to the strip.

More particularly, Figs. 1-3, the channel member comprises a long narrow body of metal 10, a longitudinal edge portion or bar 11 reversely bent upon the body 10 forming a channel 12 along one edge of the body 10, a longitudinal flange or spacer portion 13 on the other edge of the body 10 disposed substantially at a right angle to the body 10, fingers or dogs 14 and 14C lanced out of the body 10 disposed at the flange 13, a relatively inexible strip 15 such as of impregrated cardboard disposed in the channel 12 behind the bar 11 bridging the space between bar 11 and the flange 13 so that when the ngers 14 are depressed, the strip 15 is locked behind the bar 11 and the fingers 14, and fabric 16 previously sewed or otherwise attached to the strip 15. The spurs 17 are lanced out of the body 10 similarly to the fingers 14 and are so disposed that they are exposed after the fabric 16 is secured. The covering material 13 is positioned over the fabric 16 and is equipped with a reinforced edge 19 which may contain an elastic member 20 as desired. The reinforced edge is positioned behind the spurs 17 with the spurs 17 piercing the covering 18 and engaging the reinforced edge 19 thereby annexing the covering 18 to the article.

The device of Figs. 4 and 5, comprises a body 10A having a reversely bent edge or bar 11A forming on channel 12A in relation to the body 10A, a fiange 13A, and fingers 14A. The long narrow body 21 is spot welded or otherwise secured to the body 10A adjacent one longitudinal edge 22 of the body 21 with the other longitudinal edge 23 of the body 21 extending beyond the edge 11A of the body 10A with the edge 23 being reversely bent relative to the body 21 to form a channel 24 in relation therewith in spaced relation to the channel 12A and parallel thereto. The coacting fingers or dogs 25 are preferably lanced out of the edge 11A as shown but may be lanced out of the body 21 similarly to the fingers 14 if desired. The fingers 25 coact with the edge 23 as hereinbefore set forth relative to the bar 11 and fingers 14. The fabric 16A is sewed to the strip 15A and said strip is disposed behind the edge 23 and the fingers 25; the slip cover 18A is sewed to a strip 15B and the strip 15B disposed behind the bar 11A and the fingers 14A; both as hereinbefore set forth.

The device of Fig. 6 is particularly suitable for securing fabric intermediate its ends with the fabric in straight-line disposition. The elongated body 30 is equipped with a reversely bent edge or bar 31 forming a channel 32 in conjunction with the body 30 and fingers or dogs 33 depressable to coact with the bar 31. The strip 34 is disposed behind the fingers 33 and the bar 31 and may include a spacer 35 of the same material to allow the fabric 36 to assume a straight line conformation relative to the fingers 33 and bar 31. The strip 34 and spacer 35 are sewed to the fabric 36 and the fingers 33 may be bent over the strip 34 prior to straightening out the fabric 36 or they may be bent over through the fabric as desired.

The device of Fig. 7 comprises a long narrow body member composed of a channel 41, bar 42 and bottom 43 in back-to-back relationship with a channel 44, bar 45, and bottom 46 with the bottoms 43 and 46 interconnecting. Dogs or fingers 47 are lanced out of the bottoms 43 and 46 and erected at the juncture of the bottoms intermediate the bars 42 and 45. The strip 48 having fabric 49 attached is positioned in the channel 41 and half the fingers 47 bent down over the exposed edge of the strip 4S to secure same. A strip 50 having fabric 51 attached thereto is positioned in the channel 44 'and abutted against the fingers 47 which are bent down over the exposed edge of the strip securing same. The fabric 51 is preferably attached to the strip 50 in the area of the bar 45 so that pull on the fabric 51 cocks the strip 50 at one edge against the bar 45 and abuts the other edge against the fingers 47 so that very little pull is placed on the fingers 47.

In use or operation, the channel body 10 is positioned on an article to be upholstered such as the automobile seat; the fabric 16 or 16A is then cut to size and shape; and the strips 15, 15A, `or 15B is sewed to the edge of the fabric 16 or 16A. The fabric is then fitted on the article or seat 40 and the strip 15 positioned relative to one of its edges in the channel of the body behind the bar 11 and relative to its other edge adjacent the fiange 13 or the other edge of the body 10; the fingers 14 or 14C are then bent over the strip 15 positively locking it in fixed condition. The operation of the modified forms of the device is the same. In attaching a slip-cover with form shown in Figs. 1 to 3, the cover 18 is fitted over the article and the reinforced edge 19 is hooked behind the spurs 17, in attaching the slip cover 18A, Figs. 4 and 5, the cover 18A is attached the same as the fabric 16A which is the same as the fabric 16 previously described. The modifications of Figs. 6 and 7 similarly operated.

It will be noted that the bars 11, 11A, 23, and 31 in conjunction with the fingers 14, 14A, 14C, 25 and 47 provides means for positively locking the strip 15, 15A, and 15B so that it is impossible to escape or become detached without opening the fingers. noted that the device of Fig. 6 permits sidewise movement of the strip 34 and spacer 3S related to the body 30 to provide adjustment for differences in tension in they fabric 36 on either side of its attachment via the inventive device. The lancing out of the fingers 14C, 25 and 47 and spurs from metal within the side extent of the bodies permits use of a metal strip narrower than in the case of the fingers 14A.

The bodies 10, 10A, 21, and 40 may be integrated with the article upholstered such as in the automobile seat 5 shown in the drawings where it also constitutes the frame member or it may be added as an extra member. The body 30 may constitute the reinforcing bow member of the automobile top.

While the device has been shown in conjunction with slip-cover attaching means, the same may be deleted or added in any desired multiple such as by adding more bodies 21 to the device of Fig. 4.

It should also be Although several embodiments and modifications of the inventive device have been shown and described in detail as preferred, it is obvious that many changes and modifications may be made in the size, shape, detail, and arrangements of the various elements of the invention within the scope of the appended claims such as providing a solid edge instead of the fingers and depressing the entire edge over the strip.

l claim:

A fabric anchoring device comprising an elongated body having one lateral edge thereof reversely bent upon itself to form a first receiving channel and having its other lateral edge reversely bent upon itself to form a second receiving channel laterally spaced from said first reversely bent edge, bendable tabs lanced from said body between said edges so as to project upwardly between said channels, a relatively iniiexible first strip having one edge disposed in said first channel, fabric sewed to said strip; said tabs being bent over the other edge of said first strip after said first strip is inserted in'said first channel to secure said first strip to said body; a second relatively inflexible strip having one edge disposed in said second channel, and material sewed to second strip adjacent said second channel; the other edge of said second strip abutting the base of said tab to secure said second strip to said body.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 947,907 Hampton Feb. 1, 1910 1,724,946 Maclnerney Aug. 20, 1929 2,094,527 Clark Sept. 28, 1937 2,117,748 Stewart May 17, 1938 2,235,874 Freeman Mar. 25, 1941 2,518,392 Smith Aug. 8, 1950 

